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Nelson, a Republican from District 2, replaces former board member Teryl Lundeen who resigned in June when her residency within Grundy County was questioned and investigated by the State’s Attorney’s office.

In her resignation letter, Lundeen said she was resigning for “personal, family and business issues.”

After the meeting, Nelson said he looked forward to working with the board and filling Lundeen’s shoes as he believes she worked hard for the county.

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected,” Nelson said.

“It’s important to me that Grundy County remains a great place to live, to work and to do business,” he continued.

The Grundy County Board appointed Nelson in a 10-1 vote, with Frank Halpin voting against Nelson’s appointment. Halpin did not say publicly why he opposed the appointment.

Members John Almer, John Galloway, Ann Gill, Doug Boresi and Jim Ryan were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

In the Republican primary elections held in March, Nelson was the top vote-getter among the District 2 candidates, making him a logical selection by the Grundy County Republican Central Committee.

The central committee approved recommended Nelson to the County Board earlier this month.

Nelson will serve for a brief period of about two months before facing an election. By law, the position must be included in the November general election, since Lundeen completed less than half of her term.

The winner of the November election will serve until the expiration of Lundeen’s term in 2016.

Nelson said he has lived in Minooka with his wife and three children since 2007, and has a background in business with a master’s degree in business administration. He currently works at the TCF Bank headquarters in Burr Ridge.

Lundeen residency questions linger

Before Tuesday’s board meeting closed, board member Dick Joyce asked State’s Attorney Jason Helland if the investigation into Lundeen’s residency was ever passed to the public prosecutor office for a further, independent investigation.

Helland said he has not contacted the public prosecutor, despite telling the board he would during last month’s board meeting.

“The state’s attorney’s office never received police reports from the Sheriff’s Department,” Helland said Tuesday, explaining why the investigation has not been submitted to the state for further review.

“I told [the sheriff] what I needed. I told him the witness statements that needed to be taken, and they never forwarded the police report. I talked to Sheriff Callahan about it. We discussed it after the last board meeting, and as far as he was concerned, based on my legal analysis, the case was dead in the water,” Helland continued.

During last month’s board meeting, Helland said there was evidence suggesting Lundeen lived in Will County while serving the Grundy County taxpayers.

However, he also determined Lundeen’s residency in Will County was legal based on a Illinois Supreme Court decision.